Treatment of hides and skins



Patented Nov. 6, 1928.

PATENT OFFICE.

HARRY DODGE, OF DANVERS, MASSACHUSETTS.

TREATMENT OF HIDES AND SKINS.

No Drawing.

This invention relates to the treatment of hides and skins, more particularly to the curing of the latter prior to the tanning. thereof, and has for its object the treating, in a man ner as hereinafter set forth, of hides and skins to increase the quality thereof after tanning.

Hides and skins substance consists of animal flesh on one side and grain on the other side held together by fibers similar to line threads. gelatinous substance. The object in conditioning hides and skins for the purpose of being tanned intoleather is to set this gelatinous substance more solid and at the same time not allow it to run or be forced out, and it is the primary object ofthis invention to cure in a manner whereby more of this gelatinous substance will be held'in the hide or skin than heretofore, so when cured the hide or skin'will have more substance, more gelatin, and more weight resulting when tanned into leather in a higher quality or rating in the market, than would be the case if the hides a and skins w .re cured in salt as in accordance ith the'method now generally used.

The hides and skins when cured, in accord ance with this invention, are treated with. a composition consisting of nitre, bicarbonate of soda and formaldehyde.

Preferably the method of curing hides and skins. in accordance with this invention to every pounds of hides or skins, consists in placing into a receptacle a'body of cold water of an an'lountcapable of submerging the skins therein. Then thereis dissolved from one eighth of a pound to three pounds of nitre, and which is added to the water;

After the adding of the nitre,'there is dissolved from one eighth of a pound to two pounds of bicarbonate of soda and which is then added to the mixture in the receptacle. After the bicarbonate of soda has been added to the mixture there is placed into the latter from one-eighth of a pound to one pound of.

formaldehyde. After the solution or bath has been formed the hides or skins are placed therein for a period of from ten to forty hours.

The gelatinous substance is retained in dried skins by subjecting them to a bath consisting of water, formaldehyde, nitre and bi- These fibers are all inlaid in a Application filed November 28, 1927. Serial No. 236,381

carbonate of soda, and in this connection it will be statedthat there are many hides and skins taken oil the animals stretched out and dried withoutnsing salt or anything on them. These skins when they are ready to be marketed are first placed into cold water in vats and remain in the water from 12 to (30 hours in order that the skins can be softened to be marketed. lVhile soaking in water the skins lose gelatine, but in lieu of the water soaking step the skins are submitted to a bath of water, formaldehyde, nitre and bicarbonate of soda for a suitable period, from ten to forty hours, which softens them so they can be worked and at the same time retain the gelatinous substance therein," whereby the quality thereof is enhanced when the skins are tanned. Salt can not be employed to wet the back of a skin that has been taken off the animal and dried. 7

By treating the hides or skins in the 1nanner as stated, the gelatinous substance is set in a more solid manner and at the same time not allowed to run out of the skins or hides F whereby the hides or skins will retain more of this gelatinous substance, therefore, the skins When cured'will have more substance, more gelatin, and more weight and which will result, when tanned into leather, of a higher quality and higier rating, than would be the case if the same skins had been cured by the salt method now generally in use.

It is thought the many advantages derived from the treatment of hides and skins, in accordance with this invention, can be readily understood, and although the preferred embodimentof the invention is as illustrated and described, yet it is to be understood that changes in the proportions of the several ingredients or substances can be had which will fall within the scope of the invention as claimed.

lVhat I claim is: g

In the treating of dried hides and skins the subjecting them for a suitable period to a bath consisting of water, nitre, bicarbonate of soda and formaldehyde. I

In testimony whereof, I my signature hereto.

HARRY DODGE. 

